Attachment means for conveyer flights



Oct. 7, 1947. A. c. LIND ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR coNvEYBR FLIGHTS FiledJune 29 Patented Oct. 7, 1,947

ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR CONVEYER FLIGHTS Arthur C. Lind, Milwaukee, Wis.,assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin.

Application June 29, 1944, serial No. 542,701

Claims. l

The invention relates to means for readily detachably securing baskets,buckets, flights and similar elements to conveyor chains, and for pur-;poses of disclosure it has been illustrated in the accompanying drawingin connection with the mounting of the screen baskets of endlesstraveling water screen of the type disclosed in prior U. S. Patents No.1,781,223 granted Nov. 11, 1930, and No. 1,856,381 granted May 3, 1932,on applications led by Francis P. Gary. The invention also constitutes afurther development of the atprovision of a simple and effectiveconstruction for the attachment of water screen baskets and similarelements to the endless chains which carry them, which construction maynot only be produced and assembled relatively inexpensively, but alsostrengthens the assembly and substantially eliminates undesirable playtherein which would tend to hasten wear on the parts. At the same time,should such wear ultimately occur, or should the chains, baskets orattachment means become damaged whereby replacement of any of theelements be necessary, the baskets and/or the parts of the .attachmentmeans may be readily removed and replaced in the eld without the use ofany special tools or machines.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciiication, inwhich like reference characters designate like parts throughout theviews:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of one unit of atraveling water screen of the type mentioned above, showing one end ofthe screen basket assembly of such unit secured to a link of one of theendless supporting chains by one form of attachment means constructedand arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on approximately the plane indicatedby the line .2-2 of Fig.

1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a, `partial front elevational View of the unit, as seen fromthe right of Fig. 2;`

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the planesindicated by the lines 4--4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking down;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the attachment blocks which arecarried by each of the chain links.

Fig. '7 is a rear elevational view of a slightly modiiled form ofattachment bracket;

Fig. 8 is a central vertical sectional view of the bracket shown in Fig.7; and

2 Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified link-carried pin orblock for use with the bracket shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

As in the several prior patents referred to above, the screen basketassembly comprises laterally spaced end plates I0 (of which only one ishere shown) which are rigidly connected by the vertically spacedtransverse members ll and l2 to form a hollow rectangle within which thescreen I3 is secured by the clamping bars lli and bolts l5. To the outerface of each end plate i0' there is secured a projecting shelf I6,conveniently formed of stamped sheet metal and Welded as at il to thesaid -plate face. In the operation of the screen these shelvesco-operate with iixed guides and prevent passage of trash, etc., aroundthe ends of the screen baskets, as is more fully explained in theaforesaid Patents Nos. 1,781,223 and 1,856,381.

The spaced strands of chain to which the baskets are attached compriserelatively long-pitch links 20, each of which includes a pair of spacedside bars 2l inset at one end 22 where they are rigidly connectedtogether by a press-tted bushing 23 upon which is journaled a chainroller 24. At their other end the side bars are provided with apertures25 for registry with the bore of the bushing 23 of the next adjacentlink whereby the links may be articulately connected by chain pins (notshown) passed through and suitably retained in the registering aperturesand bushing bores.

As in the said prior patents, each screen unit is secured at' each ofits ends to a link of the adjacent carrying-chain strand by connectionsbetween the shelves I6 and the said links 2U. In the form shown in Figs.1-6 inclusive the present connections comprise a bracket 39, which maybe of malleable iron or equivalent material, which is secured by rivets3| against the rear face of the shelf I6 intermediate the ends of thelatter. The rear face of this bracket is provided with a pair ofvertically spaced projecting parallel flanges or lips 32 extending thefull width of the bracket and providing between them an elongatedrearwardly open partly-cylindrical or tapering socket 33 `which isadapted to snugly receive the body oi agenerally cylindrical block orbridging member 34, which however may be yprovided with a ilat surface35 extending from end to end thereof. The end portions of the said blockare also provided with short flats 35' disposed opposite to the saidsurface 35, and said end portions are press- 3 provided with a threadedhole 31 for reception of a securing bolt 38 whereby the parts may bedetachably secured in the positions shown, with the body of `the blockdrawn into and firmly seated in the socket or recess 33 and the lips 32in intimate engagement with the surfaceof the said body throughoutsubstantially its entire'length.

Filler pads 45 of sheet metal are preferably in-y ,A Y

'maintaining them n operative engagement; the

havingan end member adjacent one of the chain links: a shelf membersecured to and extending from said end member across said link; and

' means for readily detachably connecting the conterposed betweenthe'rear face ofthe shelf I64 and the forward faces of the chain sidebars 2t,-

intermediate the bracket 30 and the respective; ends of the shelf. Theweld l l between the shelf 'necting means being unattached to said endmemand the end plate I [i of the basket structure may.

extend throughout the length of the contact between the twomembers, butpreferably such weld is omitted in the area between the filler-'padsV 40veying element to the link, comprising intertting n members rigidlycarriedfrespectively bythe link. and by a portion of said shelfmembe'n'a'nd a bolt for drawing said intertting members into andyportion vof said shelf member adjacent said conberl f the conveyingelement whereby saidl shelf portion mayyield slightly as said bolt drawsthe Vinteritting members home.

2. In conveyer and like structure, a sprocket ychainhaving .a linkcomprising a pair of transso that the portion of the shelf between suchpads.

' element disposed laterally adjacent said link and is freey to yieldslightly as the bolt 38'is drawn home, thus placing this portion of theshelf under tension.

The block 34, being rigidly press-tted into the apertures 36 of thechain side bars 2| intermediate their ends, obviously strengthens'thechain construction by providing a. bridge or tie between such bars inaddition to that normally provided by Ythe bushing 23. The said blockalso serves as a chain driving lug, being engageable by the teethsuch-as d5 (Fig. 2) of the head and foot *Y sprockets of the screen. IThe intimate engagement betweenvthe body o the block 34 Vand theelongated lips 32 takes vall shearing strains 01T the attachment bolt38, and also prevents any twisting of the basket structure relative tothe chain link about theV axis of such bolt. The basket units arereadily demountable from the chains in case of necessity, by merelyremoving the Vone bolt 38 at each end of the unit, which may beaccomplished by means of an ordinaryrsorcket wrench. So far as theattachment elements are concerned, no welding operations are employed sothat such elements are easily removable and renewable if necessary.

in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the bracket 53 is provided with a frusto-conicalsocket 5I in lieu of the rectangular socket described above, and bridgeor tie block 52 of the chain link is provided with acomplementalfrusto-conical projection 53 extending outwardly from itsflattened surface 54. As will be readily understood, the projection 53will be received in the socket 5l and `Virmly seated therein when abolt, such as 3B,-is passed through the aperture 55 and screwed into thethreaded hole 56 of the'block. While still accomplishing the desiredsimple yet rm'attachment of the` screen baskets to the chain links, thismodified construction will permit of lslight pivotal movement betweenthe baskets and links'about the axes of the bolts 38, i. e., in a planeat substantially right v angles to that of link articulation, whichrelieves twisting strains upon the baskets vshould one strand of thecarrying chains tend to run somewhat ahead of or behind the otherstrand, as Vthey sometimes do. c l Y. .I

While two forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be obviousthat those skilled in the art may further varythedetailsof constructionas well asV the precise arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it isnotV wished to be limited tothe above disclosureexcept as may berequired by the claims.Y r

What is claimed is: .Y

1. In conveyer orV like structure, `the combination of a chain, amaterial-conveying element versely .spaced side barsramaterial-conveying having a portion extendingjacross said side bars, Y

which portion isl provided with an Vopen Yfaced Y socket; a memberbridgingthe'space betweenthe side bars and rigidly secured to thelatter; and means for seating and readily detachably securing saidbridging member in the socket.-

chain having a link comprising aA pair of transversely spaced side barsprovided with alined apertures; a material-conveying element positionedlaterally adjacent saidv link and having an gated socket havingconverging side Walls; Vasub- Y stantially cylindrical member bridgingthe space between the side bars and having its end portions rigidlysecuredto the latter; and'me'ans `for read- Y ily detachablyretainingsaid bridging member in engagement with said side walls'of thesocket.

5. In conveyer and likestructure, a 'sprocket chainhaving a linkcomprising a pair of transversely spaced side: bars; a materialconveyingelement'positioned laterally adjacent said vlink and having anvextension disposed .across the side.

bars, which extension is provided with a coniform socket; a memberbridging the space between vthe side bars and rigidly secured to` thelatter, said member having a coniformrprojection for reception invsaid'socket; and means for readily detachably retaining said'projectionseated in said socket for pivotal movement between the two. y

REFnnENoEscITED Y f rIfhe following Yreferences are of record infthe leof this patent: .A UNITED ySTATES PATENTS 'y f 3. In conveyer and likestructure,` a sprocketk

